I dont understand the procedure you used. It sounds like you sprayed basecoat over your clearcoat. And that you sanded the clear between coats. Why? I would have sprayed on the gold base until coverage was achieved. Then sprayed on your red midcoat until desired effect, and sprayed on your 3 coats of clear giving about 10 to 15 minutes between coats. After the clear dries overnight you could have sanded it with 2000 grit wet sand and buffed it.